“And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’…Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God'”.  – Luke 1:28, 30, NKJV

Sometime back, I received a call from a strange number. The caller identified himself as someone almost everyone reading this knows by face and name.

He told me that he has been looking for me for some time. There was some work that he wanted me to do for him, which he could not entrust to anyone else. 

As I carried out the assignment, I kept wondering how he came to believe that I was the most suitable for  it because frankly, there are many people out there who were more qualified than me.

I believe it came down to one thing – God’s favour. I believe we all had similar experiences whereby you’re almost sure that had it not been the favour upon your life, there is no way you would have got that job, spouse, deal or opportunity.

In our meditation today, we reflect on an ordinary young Jewish girl who is going about her normal routines while preparing for her upcoming wedding.

Suddenly, a stranger comes to her house and declares her as the “highly favoured one” and one who had “found favour with God.”

From all the virtuous women who ever lived, Mary was the one chosen to be none other than the mother of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus.

‘Favour’ is one of those words that are not easy to define in English but you would it is favour when you just see it. 

The Greek word translated as ‘favour’ is ‘charis‘ – the same word used for ‘grace.’

However while grace is unmerited, favour may be merited or deserved.

As a matter of fact, Mary was rewarded for being a chaste and devout girl who also described herself as “the Lord’s servant” (verse 38).

Favour will give you the edge and the green light just at the right time in the middle of the jam. You’re gonna birth things that will change the world for the glory of your God!

Of course she was not a pastor of a church and she was not part of the choir but she was serving God in her own unique ways.

That’s why she deserved the favour she found before God.

The message for you today is that God has been taking note of your faithfulness, your prayerfulness, your generosity, your service to Him, your commitment and your devotion to His Word. 

So you deserved everything you got and all the pampering you’re going to receive still. They will call you “the blessed one” and “the highly favoured one”!

It’s also important to point out that Mary was highly favoured before she became the mother of our Lord, and the Lord was with her even when she didn’t feel like it.

You too are highly favored even though you don’t feel it right now.

The Lord’s presence, which is with you, is the guarantee of that favour.

You don’t have to feel it or to experience the miracle first in order to believe that you’re highly favoured.

Listen to this; favour will clear the way for you through the competition, and God grants that favour without asking for anyone’s opinion.

Favour will give you the edge and the green light just at the right time in the middle of the jam. You’re gonna birth things that will change the world for the glory of your God! Yes, you will.

Fear not child of God for you’re highly favoured !

Prayer:

Almighty God, thank you because You’re always with me. I will rejoice and not be afraid, for I am highly favoured. Help me never to doubt that truth, in the Name of Jesus, Amen!